Monday, August 29, 2011
A look back at news coverage from Aug. 22 to 28
Hurricane Irene, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, 13 aftershocks and several flash flood warnings made their way through Vienna this week. Vienna escaped major damage as Hurricane Irene passed through the area – the storm was not as strong in this area as officials initially anticipated – but several reports of power outages, downed trees and falling wires began to roll in Sunday morning. About 1.1 million customers – about 2.5 million people – were without power in Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a press conference Sunday afternoon, marking the second highest power outage in state history. About 75 traffic signals weren't functioning in Northern Virginia, including in the Tysons area, and more than 108,000 Dominion customers in the …
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Fairfax County offers online resources to create disaster plans.
Tuesday afternoon’s 5.8 magnitude earthquake and the looming threat of Hurricane Irene should make residents think about updating their personal disaster plans. Hurricane Irene is expected to pick up speed and strength today as it turns toward the East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The latest projections indicate Virginia could see significant rain and wind this weekend, avoiding a direct hit. Still, the 2011 hurricane season is young and, as Tuesday’s surprise trembler reminded us, disaster can strike at any time. Online Resources The Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management offers many online resources, including a mobile app with emergency information, a directory of crucial phone numbers and more. In …
U.S. Geological Survey looking for resident data.
The U.S. Geological Survey is asking residents who felt Tuesday's earthquake to report their experiences so it can better measure the earthquake's reach, along with the extent of its aftershocks. More than 10,000 people from across the East Coast have given information about the tremors in their areas to the USGS database, which can also help residents feel more in control of what happened and find shared experience in their towns, USGS says. Those that have reported in the Vienna are so far have rated the earthquake a level "V" to "VI," according to a USGS map, indicating moderate to strong shaking and light damage. USGS is collecting data about the initial earthquake just before 2 p.m. and the aftershocks that followed, including the one…
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Registrar says some polling places are operating outside due to ongoing damage assessment; expects some delays in reporting results tonight.
UPDATE: Here's an update of Fairfax County precincts affected by today's earthquake during primary elections, courtesy of Fairfax County Registrar Edgardo Cortes: 226 of the county's 232 precincts are back inside their polling places. These precincts are still operating outdoors or are in the process of moving indoors: --- Fairfax County will keep polling places open until 7 p.m. today despite an unusual 5.9 earthquake that hit the area this afternoon and has area residents shaken. Some polling places were moving voting outdoors this afternoon while experts check buildings for any structural damage and to be sure no one is in danger of loose building materials falling. "We're setting up voting in parking lots in some places," said Edgardo …
Earthquake caused tremors across Northern Virginia
Update 8:58 p.m.: Metro speed restrictions will continue through system closing tonight, WMATA said. Update 8:12 p.m.: Some area residents felt the 4.2 magnitude aftershock that rocked the area around 8:04 p.m. Details here. Update 6:48 p.m.: Polls will remain open until 7 p.m. despite the earthquake, Fairfax County Officials say. All people in line for the Sheriff's primary ballot by 7 p.m. will be able to vote. Update 6 p.m.:A Fairfax County Police Officer is stationed at the Vienna Metro station to watch over the large crowds evacuated from their buildings in D.C. after Tuesday's earthquake. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake damaged the overpass from the North Parking lot (Vienna side), knocking ceiling tiles loose and leaving them hanging …
Wien
9:05 am on Thursday, August 25, 2011
And to put all at further ease about the safety of NoVA, the Spectral Response Acceleration Coefficients (the seismic factors from which structural engineers design their buildings) in the VA/DC/MD area are up to 8, meaning engineers have designed projects up to that safety level. Now...with some of our new construction building-by-lowest-bidder boom in the early '00s, I'd be worried about a 7, … more ›